Though the game remained scoreless for most of the first half, the Tabb Tigers pulled out a 2-0 shutout over fellow Conference 19 competitor Poquoson at home Monday night.
The Tigers (1-1) appeared to score about 17 minutes into the game. Allison LeVie of Tabb streaked down the field and delivered a clean pass to Michelle Sterling, who finished the pass into the lower right corner of the net.
As Tabb began celebrating, a linesman raised his flag to indicate an offside.
Being drawn offside was a common theme throughout the game as Poquoson successfully implemented an offside trap on defense that thwarted multiple Tabb scoring chances.
“Poquoson does that great offside trap,” Tabb Coach Kelle Shiflett said. “They did it last year, too. Our girls just weren’t paying attention. They weren’t looking at where they were going with the ball or their position on the field.”
The Tigers caught a break with 5:44 left in the first half, as Brennan Rausch was taken down from behind in the box, earning her a penalty kick. She stepped to the line and buried the attempt in the lower-right corner of the net to put Tabb up 1-0 — a lead the Tigers held into halftime.
Tabb held the 1-0 advantage heading into the half.
Haley Thompson scored less than seven minutes into the second half off a Natalie Stratton corner from the left side of the field. Stratton’s cross flew into the middle of the box, and Thompson headed the ball into the ground before it bounced into the net.
The Tigers saw more scoring opportunities in the second half, which Shiflett attributed to better energy from her team after halftime, but never found the back of the net again.
With only two games played this season and spring break quickly approaching, Shiflett said she is concerned about her team’s on-field experience at this point in the season.
“I think we’ve been on the field five or six times this whole season for practice,” she said. “Hopefully we can get some practices in over spring break. We have several girls going away. We play a conference game our first game back that Monday. It’s going to be tough.”
The Tigers will need to get on the practice field over spring break as they prepare for an April 13 showdown on the road against Smithfield at 7 p.m.
Tabb 2, Poquoson 0
Goals: Tabb (Brennan Rausch, Haley Thompson)
Assists: Tabb (Natalie Stratton)
Two York goals in the first five minutes of the game helped set the tone during the Falcons’ 5-1 road win against New Kent on Monday.
Liz Kramer and Madison Van Dyke struck quickly for York (3-0-2) in the early going. Kramer intercepted an attempted clear deep within the New Kent box and put it back into the net.
A few minutes later after a New Kent foul in the box, Van Dyke calmly buried a penalty kick to put the Falcons up 2-0.
York carried the 2-0 lead into halftime.
Roughly 12 minutes into the second half, New Kent’s Zoe Wallace found the back of the net off a corner kick to bring the Trojans within one goal.
After the New Kent goal, York pulled away thanks to consecutive goals from Sophie Pereira, Hannah Elford and Rachel Brownell.
York will resume its season in a home game against Warhill at 7 p.m. April 13.
York 5, New Kent 1
Goals: York (Liz Kramer, Madison Van Dyke, Sophie Pereira, Hannah Elford, Rachel Brownell), New Kent (Zoe Wallace)
Assists: York (Van Dyke 2, Kramer)
Doherty Scores for Warhill During Loss
Shaye Doherty scored Warhill’s lone goal in the 2-1 loss to Smithfield at home Monday.
Doherty gave Warhill (1-3) the lead 15 minutes into the game after dribbling the ball into the box and ripping a shot between two defenders.
Nearly five minutes later, Smithfield tied the game up on a through ball up the right side that was placed in the back of the net.
The two teams were knotted up at 1-1 at the half.
With 15 minutes left in the game, Smithfield scored the game-winning goal after an attacker slipped through the Warhill defense and slotted the ball past Warhill keeper Aaliyah Tyler.
Warhill will continue its season after spring break April 13 with a 7 p.m. road game against York.
Smithfield 2, Warhill 1
Goals: Warhill (Shaye Doherty)
